turkey

It seems at Thanksgiving there are two distinct teams — those who dig deep on the serving platter for the white meat, and those who fight for the drumstick. It’s really a battle of white meat versus dark meat. But aside from the color, what really is the difference? It all comes down to what a particular muscle, aka meat, is used for. Turkeys aren’t known for their flying abilities. They typically only take off for short distances — say, from the ground to a perch (Fun fact: Wild turkeys spend the night in trees, preferably oak trees). This means they rely on their legs to get them around all day. All of that walking and running means the muscles in their legs and thighs are full of blood vessels. These blood vessels contain myoglobin (or muscle hemoglobin), which delivers tons of rich oxygen to the muscles. The more myoglobin…

If you’ve ever gazed at your Thanksgiving table and thought the butter dish looked a little boring, apparently you’re not alone. One company is churning out turkey-shaped butter sculptures, and they’re flying off the shelves. The Philadelphia-based Keller’s Creamery is making seasonally-shaped half pound butter sculptures for $3.99-$7.99 each. The architectural achievement is the perfect depiction of a plump, Thanksgiving turkey, with textured feathers, wattle, and tail all made from creamy salted butter. Most big box stores and supermarkets are be stocking the designer dairy item. Gristedes in NYC, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Wegmans are all confirmed carriers. As an East Coast brand, the birds are more commonly found in nearby states. If you can’t find one where you live, you could always buy a mold on Amazon and make your own. It’s recommended that you keep the butter cold until serving, so all your guests can enjoy your delightful…

Every November novice cooks start to search for the recipes they’ll whip up in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. While it’s no surprise that the turkey itself actually got the award for most-Googled Thanksgiving dish in America, not every home cook ended his or her search there. According to Satellite internet.com’s new analysis of food-related Google searches, there is plenty of regional variation to what type of Thanksgiving day kitchen help we’re looking for — as the map below shows. Green bean casserole takes the crown for most-searched recipe, after clearly, having a massive Midwest following. Corn casserole also sneaks its way into the middle of green bean territory — maybe we’re witnessing a takeover? Massachusetts and Oregon seem to have a problem making cranberry sauce, while New Mexico, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky are all about the sweet potatoes. Maryland, Virginia, Mississippi, and Illinois want to know how to…

We’re not here to burst your Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon, but if you’re concerned about calories on Turkey Day, you might want to take note. According to the Calorie Control Council, most Americans will consume around 4,500 calories next Thursday — and that’s during dinner alone! As if that’s not bad enough, most of us are in denial. According to a Basis Science survey, most Turkey Day diners expect to consume just 1,780 calories, and 75 percent of diners estimate their meal will clock in under 2,000 calories. While ignorance can be bliss, your pants will always know better. And you should, too. From appetizers to dessert, we took a look the calories in a traditional Thanksgiving holiday menu. Too scared to read on? No need. We won’t ask you give up gravy — or pie. You can have an enjoyable holiday feast without depriving yourself. Just be mindful of what…

Thanksgiving is the biggest feast of the year. There’s so much to think about and plan for, you’re going to want a guide going in so you don’t forget anything. What to do right now The guest list. It’s likely to change, but getting an idea of how many people are going to come can help you start to estimate what and how much you’ll need. Order a turkey. Don’t leave this one up to chance at the grocery store. If you wait too long to pick up a bird, you might be scrambling. Plus, ordering ahead gives you a chance to order the right size and type of turkey you want. And you know it will be fresh. Check your housewares. Go through your linens and dishes and make sure you have everything you need, from baking dishes to napkins, salads bowls, silverware, and even towels, sheets and toiletries if…

If you’re a bit of a food cheapskate like me, you probably skip right over panini on a menu. They’re undeniably delicious, but they’re outrageously priced — $17 for a warmed deli-meat sandwich?! You can make the exact same sandwiches at home — no exaggeration. You might spend the same amount on ingredients, but you’ll be able to make enough sandwiches to feed your whole family, or yourself for a week. Try this recipe for a warm, cheesy turkey and cheese panini with pesto. The pesto mayo and fresh baked bread make it taste like it came from one of those overpriced fancy sandwich shops, but you’ll be eater fresher and healthier, and of course, saving yourself some cash in the process. Turkey and cheese, pesto panini Ingredients 2 tbsp light mayonnaise 4 tsp basil pesto 4 slices of bakery bread, thin sliced (Sourdough is my favorite for this recipe)…

There’s an unexplained phenomenon out there that you’ve probably experienced before, without even knowing it had a name. The Mandela Effect is a popular conspiracy theory, and it has been known to seriously play tricks on your brain. The Mandela Effect is the term used to describe the phenomenon when thousands of people, often strangers, share a very specific memory of something that never existed or happened differently. The very name was inspired by the collective misremembering of the death of Nelson Mandela. Mandela died in 2013, but people all over the world incorrectly remember the human rights activist dying in prison in the 1980s. It’s not simply a case of mistaken memory, because a large number of people share in the same false memory. So what is going on here? There are a lot of different explanations for why the Mandela Effect happens. Psychologists believe it’s a result of confabulation, or…

If you’re trying to eat healthy, the Super Bowl comes at a super inconvenient time. Just a few weeks past the holidays, we’re hardly detoxed from those dozens of cookies and excess alcohol before BAM!: A whole day full of fattening foods. From buffalo chicken dip to countless foods smothered in cheese, there’s really no where to hide… But then again, who wants to settle for salad? I’ll be whipping up this easy turkey chili first thing in the morning so it’s ready by game time. Just 15 minutes of prep work and 4-5 hours on high in the slow cooker will have this tasty dish piping-hot in time for kick-off. Serve with tortilla chips, shredded Mexican cheese blend, and/or fresh avocado slices (I splurged and made some jalapeño corn bread, too), and you’ll have a hearty, healthy dish, that will satisfy your football-inspired cravings, but won’t leave you regretting your whole day.…

Holidays are nothing if they’re not humorous. Burnt turkeys. Family fights. Bad weather. Wait… why do we look forward to them again? Regardless of the craziness, we love all things that celebrate this time of year, so put on your stretchy pants, grab a big piece of pumpkin pie and relive your favorite television holiday mishaps. Here are 9 Thanksgiving small screen scenes to be thankful for. CHEERS Carla invites everyone over for Thanksgiving dinner, but while the gang is waiting for Norm’s turkey’s “little pop thing” to pop out, tensions run high and a food fight erupts. https://youtu.be/fX6bQkiu8JI EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND Debra and Marie plan a healthy Thanksgiving dinner to help with their cholesterol. Not surprisingly, the tofurkey doesn’t go over well with the family. https://youtu.be/-Qvwfy0MVJw FRIENDS Always a fan of food, Joey tackles the whole turkey. https://youtu.be/YxGeLklMkKw HAPPY DAYS It’s Thanksgiving day and Marion gets upset because her family can’t…

It’s nice to see Thanksgiving getting a little love. The Elf of the Shelf has been hanging around American homes for over a decade now. Somehow, this creepy inanimate object has stolen the hearts of millions of kids. Not to be outdone, Hanukkah inspired its own version, 2013’s The Mensch on a Bench. Now maybe we can all come together for something a little more secular, in celebration of a holiday often overlooked. Turkey on the Table ($39.99) was launched by California moms April George and Kerry Manus in 2015. Like the Elf and the Mensch, the faux turkey comes with a book (featuring an adorable looking turkey) and paper feathers. In the weeks leading up to the big feast, kids are supposed to write things they’re grateful for on the feathers, and stick them in the plush turkey’s backend to make a tail. “Start a tradition, give thanks and give back,” the company promotes. Additional packs of feathers are for sale when…

About

Meghan is a full-time writer exploring the fun facts behind food. She lives a healthy lifestyle but lives for breakfast, dessert and anything with marinara. She’s thrown away just as many meals as she’s proud of.